Is anybody else a little disappointed with Matt McGee's post-Vancouver comments regarding the focus on women's rights U2 dedicated "Ultraviolet" to? I was willing to chalk it up to a very personal connection to that song, but his followup comments about his unhappiness with the Africa-associations that "Streets" now has made it seem like he is more down on these specific causes and U2's promotion of them than anything.

First off, I think it's safe to say that many a U2 song has been dedicated to a cause larger than the themes discussed in the song itself, sometimes completely randomly. Beautiful Day became the official song of the Special Olympics. One has been dedicated to Shimon Peres, fighting homophobia, Turks suffering discrimination in Germany, the Bosnian War, and AIDS research. More recently, "Bullet" has morphed from a critique of US intervention, to Neo-fascism in Europe, to gun violence, to now police state tactics against peaceful protesters.

I guess what I'm feeling is disappointment. I thought the one thing that brought real U2 fans together was their passion for supporting important causes. I don't want to discount Matt's personal connection to Ultraviolet, as I know I have my own personal stories and connections to these songs. But the argument he makes could literally be applied to most songs U2 has released and then performed live. His arguments seem disingenuous and suggests something darker than just wanting to reserve these songs for himself. It is also very curious that he writes that "Ultraviolet" is now "politicized" (celebrating the accomplishments of women throughout history is a political decision like raising taxes on rich people or sending troops overseas? Hmm.). Is he not able to enjoy songs like Pride, MLK, Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Silver and Gold, Please? Did he stop liking Please when he addressed it to the 9/11 attackers, changing it from its original focus of the Troubles? When Walk On was dedicated to Cuban pro-democracy activists?

In a year when women have been denigrated right and left, I appreciate U2 taking the time and energy to highlight women's issues. God bless them for doing this! I really couldn't care less what Matt or anyone else thinks of it; I just know that for me it is appreciated. Even my church denigrates women and claims they can't be in positions of power or influence. In Detroit, girls have been recently having genital mutilation surgeries. Bono seems super respectful of women, and I appreciate his using his influence to spread this message.

In a year when women have been denigrated right and left, I appreciate U2 taking the time and energy to highlight women's issues. God bless them for doing this! I really couldn't care less what Matt or anyone else thinks of it; I just know that for me it is appreciated. Even my church denigrates women and claims they can't be in positions of power or influence. In Detroit, girls have been recently having genital mutilation surgeries. Bono seems super respectful of women, and I appreciate his using his influence to spread this message.

Well, we are all super respectful of women and our mothers and sisters wives and gielfriends. Personally I am just tired of feminism being pushed down my throat every waking moment through the media. Its not 'anti woman' to say you are tired of media bombardment non-stop. Actually in 2017, men are the victims. Just so you know.

I have no problem with artists finidng new meaning in their works as they age and get new perspective on the world. most great pieces of literature, and the Bible, have multiple layers of interpretation, and i'm guessing that not all of them are intentional.that being said, there's another thing on artists trying to capitalize on trying to force new meanings when it is natural and is a big leap.

I agree with Matt, actually. I don't have any particular personal connection with the song, it's just meant a specific thing to me. It's always been despairing. It's weird to hear it framed as uplifting. I can see how it CAN go that way, but it seems like dressing the song up in a way it was never really intended to. Ditto the Vertigo version of Streets. It always meant something ambiguous, maybe spiritual (and I'm in no way spiritual, myself), and possibly to do with the American West. Seeing it framed as an African anthem was.....weird.

I think it's quite possible to support the type of causes and messages U2 espouses without necessarily wanting those causes to serve as a framework for certain songs. And sometimes a new framework for a song can be fitting. It's a personal reaction--nothing to be disappointed about if someone doesn't feel the same way as you.